We started the Austin Weekly News West Side Business Network because we recognized a strong need to support the business community on Chicago's Greater West Side in terms of community outreach, exposure and networking. What started as an invitation for some local businesswomen and entrepreneurs to meet for breakfast has grown into a strong business network of more than 500 members, with subgroups including West Side Women, West Side Men, West Side Bridge, Austin Weekly News Business Development Group, and West Side Manufacturing Network. We have partnered with a number of local nonprofits to create custom content in the form of special sections. Our team of edit designers, photographers, feature writers, sales staff and a project manager work hands on with the client to do what we do best — tell the story of the local community. We've created special sections covering topics ranging from mental illness, early childhood social-emotional development, housing crisis and opportunities, healthcare and education.

1. West Side Business
Network
Innovative Idea Presentation
by
Dawn Ferencak,
Wednesday Journal Publications

2. Wednesday Journal Publications

3. Relationship Based
Community Building

6. Local politicians at the West Side Heart & Sole 5K

7. Paxton
Ferencak
meets
Governor
Quinn
Wednesday Journal Publications’
Publisher Dan Haley at a community
event

8. Growing up in the neighborhood

11. Paxton at Sec. of State
Jessie White’s desk
Paxton shaking hands with
Chicago Mayor Emanuel

12. Paxton
Ferencak
makes the
cover of the
competing
newspaper
for Chicago’s
West Side

13. Out & About in Austin began in 2010

14. 2011

15. By September of
2011, we decided to
EXPAND our
circulation, and
cover the entire
West Side of
Chicago

16. 2012

20. 2013

21. 2014

22. Out & About in Austin
publishes every week
in print and online
www.AustinWeeklyNews.com

23. Creating a network for the
business community

24. Austin Weekly News’ Business Development Luncheons
began in June 2012

28. Austin Weekly News’ tote bags

30. Austin Weekly News’ West Side Women
networking group began in February 2013

31. Each meeting includes time for introductions

33. “The Austin Weekly News has created the
West Side Business Network along with
other groups during this past year.
The results have been
outstanding - providing
outreach, information and
networking to business' and
organizations in the Austin community.”
- Sandra Sokol, former Village Clerk,
Village of Oak Park

34. West Side Women networking meetings are FREE to attend,
though women are encouraged to purchase their own
breakfast and support Alice’s Restaurant
Alice’s Soul Food
Restaurant
A West Side landmark
for over 30 years
5638 W. Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL

36. The One
Year
Anniversary
Meeting of
West Side
Women
included
Vendor
Tables

37. Men started coming to West Side Women...

38. And so, in March of 2013, the West Side
Bridge networking group was born

39. Bridging the gap between Chicago’s West Side and the suburbs

42. Austin Weekly News’ West Side Men
networking group began in May 2014

49. Results & Outcomes
Advertising Revenue Quadruples

50. West Side Community Guide doubles in size

51. Seen as Community Leaders

53. Revenue from nonprofits grows in
Wednesday Journal (sister publication)

54. Austin Weekly News’ email list grows
from 300 to 2,800 in 2 years
Dedicated “Community Focus” Emails
West Side
Business
Network
Weekly
Update
Emails
Breaking News Emails

55. Dawn wins Sales Representative of the Year
for 2011 and 2013
“We are proud of Dawn for her hard
work, professionalism and most of
all for her abiding commitment
to helping her clients market
and promote their businesses to
reach more customers and increase
their sales.
Dawn definitely deserves the honor
of being named among the top
newspaper advertising
professionals in the State.”
- Illinois Press Association

58. “Because of the support that Community of Congregations received from
the Austin Weekly News and the Oak Park Wednesday Journal, we were
delighted to welcome over 200 people to Ascension Church for our
Annual Meeting to interact with a panel of 11 community leaders.
The newspapers' willingness to highlight the
resources available in our communities as well as
the needs we face together, helps all of us be informed
and prepared us to be engaged in meaningful ways for the
benefit of all of us.”
- Sally Iberg
Pilgrim Community Church
Community of Congregations

59. West Side Business Network Holiday Party:
A Celebration of Success!
Attendees included Anan Abu-Taleb
(2nd from left), President of the
Village of Oak Park
● 1st Annual Party to celebrate
the West Side Business
Network growing to over 500
members
● Raised over $2,575 in
Sponsorships
● Over 250 people attended
● Secured volunteers from half
a dozen local organizations

63. 2nd Annual West Side Business Network Holiday Party:
on track for even bigger success!
● Already raised $5,300 in
Sponsorships
● Doing a “Taste of Local
Eats,” a buffet of
refreshments from area
establishments that will
allow guests to
experience our
neighborhood’s culinary
creations

65. Dawn named Associate Publisher of
Austin Weekly News in March 2014
“I'm very pleased to announce that we are promoting Dawn Ferencak to Associate
Publisher of the Austin Weekly News. This title recognizes the broad and
powerful role that Dawn (and Junior Associate Publisher Paxton Ferencak) play
in representing the Weekly across the West Side.
It has been remarkable to watch and to participate as Dawn has built a strong
revenue base for this publication and has done that by building an astounding
network of West Siders who participate actively in the networking groups which
Dawn has built from scratch. This is a textbook study of community organizing
meeting community journalism. And it is powerful.
Thanks to Dawn and Paxton and all those who have supported this effort.”
- Dan Haley, Publisher, Wednesday Journal, Inc.

66. Dawn is recognized as an Unsung Heroine of Cook County in March 2014
“Dawn Ferencak is an unsung hero because she works tirelessly
everyday to further the success of her family, the company she works
for, and the many organizations she is involved with. Dawn is incredibly
dedicated to her community – the West Side of Chicago. For years
now, Dawn has made Austin Weekly News the most profitable
newspaper produced by Wednesday Journal Publications, while
bringing an invaluable positive energy to the workplace. On the board
of 6 organizations, Dawn is always attending local events with her son,
Paxton, now a well-known fixture in the community.”

67. Dawn with her son Paxton and
Cook County Board President Toni
Preckwinkle

68. Dawn named Sales Manager
in July 2014
“I have asked Dawn Ferencak to take on the leadership of the sales staff for our
four weeklies.
She will become our new sales manager and comes ready with great
enthusiasm, plenty of ideas on how to grow our business in both digital and
print, a clear sense of the challenges and opportunities we face and an
unparalleled work ethic.
Dawn is the right person to lead our efforts in these remarkable times of change.”
- Dan Haley, Publisher, Wednesday Journal, Inc.

69. National Recognition
Invited to act as Moderator for a panel discussion at the
Illinois Diversity Council’s National Women’s Conference
“Transitional Leadership: From Vision to Impact”
Dawn with Donna Brazile, author, academic, and
political analyst who is Vice Chairwoman of the
Democratic National Committee

70. National Recognition
The story of the West
Side Business Network
was included in an article
in Metro Plus Business
Magazine

71. Events
The West Side Business Network
hosted several free Health Panel
Discussions for the community

74. ● Helps to establish
connections that
promote collaboration
with the goal of mutual
benefit
● People become
connected through the
WSBN -- It's the first
group they seek out
when they want to
grow their business
in Austin!
● The West Side
Business Network
(WSBN) has over
500 members
● Now forming sub-committees
to help
plan events
Outcomes
● Dawn on the Board of
Directors at 5 West
Side organizations
● Alicia promoted to
Communications and
Marketing Project
Manager

75. Members are Engaged
● Weekly Email
Updates with
upcoming
meetings and
flyers from
members
● Monthly
Postcard
Reminders
● Newspaper
Ads

76. West Side
Manufacturing
Network
(for the over 300
manufacturing and
production companies on
Chicago’s West Side)
Next Steps
Austin Weekly News
Society for Community
Journalism and
Outreach
(a nonprofit)

77. Community Room Makeover

78. The End
Presentation made by Alicia Plomin,
Communications & Marketing Manager,
Wednesday Journal Publications

79. Partnerships with Nonprofits
to Grow Revenue through
Special Sections
Innovative Idea Presentation
by
Dawn Ferencak,
Wednesday Journal Publications

80. GOAL: To help our community
partners tell their story

84. Leverage community outreach
to build partnerships

86. Collaboration across all departments

87. Move Me Soul is a youth dance company
that fuses technique, performance,
positivity and creativity. Teens move
beyond their limits on and off stage.

89. Collaboration = Quality
3rd Place Award for Best
Annual Special Section
West Side Heart & Sole
“Attractive, great
information, great
advertiser support
& messages”
–Judges Comment

90. Best One-Time
Special Section
at 2013
Convention

91. Guide the client in defining their story
“Thank you
for your
help with
this project.
It’s a
wonderful
piece!”
- Nina Allen,
CEO,
Thrive
Counseling
Center

92. “It was a pleasure to partner with the Wednesday Journal on our
special section on Stigma Busting. We are always trying to
educate the public on mental health issues, and sometimes feel
as though our voices are ignored. The Journal’s willingness to
help spread the word was invaluable to our mission of
building healthy minds, families and communities.”
Nina Allen, President & CEO, Thrive Counseling Center

94. Offer a variety of packages
● Typically 8 page, full
color special section
pullout
● Five 500-word stories,
cover photo, one
photoshoot with our
award-winning
photographer
● Client receives
overrun to use for
direct promotions
Optional:
● Digital-only stories,
photos, and/or video
● Digital version of the
special section on our
websites

95. Pricing Structure
● Depends on size of
section, number
of stories,
photography needed
and number of shoots
● Also depends on
overrun requested
● One fee for the total
project (preferred), or
sell advertisements to
client prospect list.
● Project can be used by
client as a fundraiser
by selling their own
ads

96. Advanced Partnerships
Work with
client to
produce a
schedule of
quarterly
special
sections
Media Kit for Austin Coming Together special sections

97. "Austin Weekly News has been a key partner in helping us tell the story of
all the great works happening within the Austin Community.
With their generous support, we have developed special sections for each of
our 4 focus areas to highlight our partners and their collaborative actions.
These publications provide an excellent opportunity to engage the
community.”
Darnell Shields, Director of Operations, Austin Coming Together

98. The End
Presentation made by Alicia Plomin,
Communications & Marketing Manager,
Wednesday Journal Publications